Grab a coffee ☕, head to a PORCH💚, and catch up with us. 

50th Edition | April 2025

Two years.

Fifty editions.
Countless stories, connections, and memories.

When we first started PORCH, it was a simple idea: to provide a real space for immigrant entrepreneurs to connect, share their experiences, and support each other. What it’s become is something far greater.

Over the past 2+ years we've shared wins (big and small), welcomed countless new members, announced new initiatives, refocused, celebrated, stumbled, and got back up again. We've hosted potlucks, dinners, coaching sessions, gave away thousands of $$$, and did our part to support the ecosystem. We've leaned on each other and grown, together.

This 50th edition is a moment to pause and say: thank you 💚

Thank you for reading, sharing, showing up, and building this community alongside us.

Whether you are a PORCH member or just follow along with these newsletters, thank you for making PORCH more than just a network – thank you for making it a home for so many international entrepreneurs.

Here’s to the next 50, and everything we’ll create together.

With gratitude.

Neil & Hunter, PORCH Founders

This was our biggest potluck yet! There were over 120 international entrepreneurs from 33 different countries! 🗺️
 

These pictures are what PORCH stands for. It's what community should be.

Some of our favourite highlights from the night...

🔦 There were dishes from over 33 different countries! It may just be the Guinness World Record for most diverse potluck 🗺️

🔦 We did the PORCH Pitch Circle and heard 10 second pitches from anyone who wanted to step up!

🔦 Played the PORCH Potluck Trivia Challenge!! Check out the full game recap.

🔦 We played an awesome social BINGO game.

🔦 We gave away over $5000 in prizes including WebSummit tickets, Lavender & POD subscriptions, tons of gift cards, and more!

🔦 We gave away our first-ever PORCH Foundation grant with Matrix Venture Studio!! 2 winners of $1,500 + 4 x $200 runner-up prizes!

Podcast Launch! 🎙️

Unfiltered w/ PORCH

The unfiltered stories that no one talks about.

We have officially launched Unfiltered w/ PORCH. The podcast explores what it means to be an immigrant entrepreneur from the POV of the immigrant. Real stories. Real journeys. Immigrant entrepreneurship, told by those who have lived it.

We are very excited to be doing this with Dozie Anyaegbunam and The Newcomers 💚 

The first episode dives into the story behind PORCH, why we started it, our new refocus, and the good, the bad, and the ugly of the entrepreneur space.

Global Opportunities

with CSA 🗺️

Our community partner, 

Canada Startup Association (CSA) is the official Canadian partner for Expand North Star at GITEX GLOBAL, the world’s largest tech and startup exhibition. This partnership offers

Canadian startups an unparalleled opportunity to showcase their innovations on a global stage.

Learn More and Start Your Global Journey

Next Up for Events

🗓️ May 8th | OneEleven in Toronto

Coaching & Coffee #onthePORCH brings in experts in different functional expertise areas (sales, VC, startup law, marketing, pitching, etc.) to support immigrant entrepreneurs in Canada.

This is a great opportunity to speak with experienced coaches and get the support you need.

Plus, there will be loads of pizza and coffee for everyone to stay fuelled up!

Ticket Information:

🎟️ PORCH Plus Members: FREE
🎟️ PORCH Digital: $15
🎟️ Non-Members – Early-Bird: $20

PORCH Talk Sessions 🖥️

Join us for these upcoming PORCH Talk (virtual) sessions! For paid members only.

👀 April 23rd | Member-Led Mastermind: Building an Effective Marketing Strategy – Led by Naz Noorani | Register Here

⁉️ May 1st | ACA: Ask the Community Anything | Register Here

❤️ May 14th | Mental Wellness for Immigrant Entrepreneurs w/ Nina Purewal | Register Here

We have the winners for the first-ever PORCH Foundation Grant in partnership with Matrix Venture Studio!

The PORCH Foundation was launched about 6 months ago as an NFP organization to help level the playing field and support immigrant entrepreneurs and the companies that support them.

We aren't at the point where we can give away loads of money but sometimes you just need a few bucks.

We launched our first grant a few months ago with Matrix Venture Studio ™️ consisting of $1,500 each to support immigrant entrepreneurs and their startups.

At Thursday's PORCH Potluck, we announced the winners 🔥 

Congratulations to Marcelo Ribeiro and his startup, LovShield and Charulatha Vijayakumar and her startup, CollSong Inc. for receiving $1,500 each.

AND, we had a really hard time picking a winner we wanted to do what we could to help some of the other applicants as well. So we also awarded $200 PORCH Foundation gift to Akos Tolnai, Andres Parra Arze, Asli Kahraman, and Khalil Gdoura!

Thank you for your support Dev Mitra and Abhijitt Sankar Roy!

Charulatha and Asli weren't there so Ting accepted it on their behalf.

Want to be get access to everything + more?

Come join the exclusive international entrepreneur club for the personal side of the journey. 30+ virtual sessions a year with incredible speakers, 15+ in person events, an active everyday community, endless savings and perks, and great people who want to help each other succeed.

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